The Prince and the Pauper

Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)

The Prince and the Pauper (1882) represents Mark Twain's first attempt at historical fiction. The book, set in 1547, tells the story of two young boys who are identical in appearance: Tom Canty, a pauper who lives with his abusive father in Offal Court, London, and Prince Edward son of Henry VIII of England. Due to a series of circumstances, the boys accidentally replace each other, and much of the humor in the book originates in the two boys' inability to function in the world that is so familiar to the other (although Tom soon displays considerable wisdom in his decisions). In many ways, the book is a social satire, particularly compelling in its condemnation of the inequality that existed between the classes in Tudor England. In that sense, Twain abandoned the wry Midwestern style for which he was best known and adopts a style reminiscent of Charles Dickens. (Summary from Wikipedia.org)

Genre(s): Children's Fiction

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 01 – The birth of the Prince and the Pauper / 02 – Tom’s early life / 03 – Tom’s meeting with the Prince John Greenman
00:27:35
Play 02 04 – The Prince / 05 – Tom as a patrician John Greenman
00:23:57
Play 03 06 – Tom receives instructions John Greenman
00:15:43
Play 04 07 – Tom’s first royal dinner / 08 – The question of the Seal John Greenman
00:13:39
Play 05 09 – The river pageant / 10 – The Prince in the toils John Greenman
00:22:46
Play 06 11 – At Guildhall John Greenman
00:10:49
Play 07 12 – The Prince and his deliverer John Greenman
00:23:28
Play 08 13 – The disappearance of the Prince John Greenman
00:08:39
Play 09 14 – ‘Le Roi est mort—vive le Roi’ John Greenman
00:22:44
Play 10 15 – Tom as King John Greenman
00:22:40
Play 11 16 – The state dinner / 17 – Foo-foo the First John Greenman
00:27:24
Play 12 18 – The Prince with the tramps / 19 – The Prince with the peasants John Greenman
00:27:13
Play 13 20 – The Prince and the hermit / 21 – Hendon to the rescue John Greenman
00:23:50
Play 14 22 – A victim of treachery / 23 – The Prince a prisoner John Greenman
00:18:08
Play 15 24 – The escape / 25 – Hendon Hall John Greenman
00:19:47
Play 16 26 – Disowned / 27 – In prison John Greenman
00:27:53
Play 17 28 – The sacrifice / 29 – To London / 30 – Tom’s progress John Greenman
00:16:47
Play 18 31 – The Recognition procession John Greenman
00:12:22
Play 19 32 – Coronation Day John Greenman
00:24:57
Play 20 33 – Edward as King / Conclusion – Justice and Retribution John Greenman
00:25:23